The Nasdaq and S&P 500 each slugged out 0.6% gains. The Dow Jones industrial average went up 0.4%. Volume rose 9% on the Nasdaq and 4% on the NYSE compared with trade early Monday.

Earnings season continued apace in the stock market today, with half of the S&P 500 companies having reported December-quarter performance. Standard & Poor's reports that results point to 2013's strongest quarter.

Factory orders slipped 1.5% in December, the Commerce Department reported. That reversed November's 1.8% increase, but was better than the 1.8% decline forecast by economists. Orders have declined in four of the past six months.

Drugmaker Pfizer (PFE) popped 4% to help buoy the Dow. The company reported late Monday that a phase two trial of breast cancer treatment palbociclib showed statistically significant positive results.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) pressed ahead 4% in strong trade. The coffee distributor's earnings growth is seen slowing when it reports its fiscal first quarter Wednesday. But the company is touting a new Keurig K-cup device designed to help stave off competitors after the loss of patent protection.

Green Mountain was 4% above a 77.68 buy point in a cup-with-handle base.

In a possible sympathy move, watch and accessories maker Fossil (FOSL) jumped 8% at the start of trade.

Investment advisor Waddell & Reed (WDR) shot ahead 4% after its fourth-quarter sales and earnings easily cleared the consensus estimate. Assets under management increased 11% for the quarter and 31% for the year. The stock's gain took back a large share of Monday's 5% loss, leaving shares just below their 50-day moving average.

Losses among IBD 50 stocks were moderate. Ambarella (AMBA) slipped furthest, down 3% to just below its 10-week moving average. It is in the fifth week of a consolidation.

The Nasdaq and S&P 500 each slugged out 0.6% gains. The Dow Jones industrial average went up 0.4%. Volume rose 9% on the Nasdaq and 4% on the NYSE compared with trade early Monday.

Earnings season continued apace in the stock market today, with half of the S&P 500 companies having reported December-quarter performance. Standard & Poor's reports that results point to 2013's strongest quarter.

Factory orders slipped 1.5% in December, the Commerce Department reported. That reversed November's 1.8% increase, but was better than the 1.8% decline forecast by economists. Orders have declined in four of the past six months.

Drugmaker Pfizer (PFE) popped 4% to help buoy the Dow. The company reported late Monday that a phase two trial of breast cancer treatment palbociclib showed statistically significant positive results.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) pressed ahead 4% in strong trade. The coffee distributor's earnings growth is seen slowing when it reports its fiscal first quarter Wednesday. But the company is touting a new Keurig K-cup device designed to help stave off competitors after the loss of patent protection.

Green Mountain was 4% above a 77.68 buy point in a cup-with-handle base.

In a possible sympathy move, watch and accessories maker Fossil (FOSL) jumped 8% at the start of trade.

Investment advisor Waddell & Reed (WDR) shot ahead 4% after its fourth-quarter sales and earnings easily cleared the consensus estimate. Assets under management increased 11% for the quarter and 31% for the year. The stock's gain took back a large share of Monday's 5% loss, leaving shares just below their 50-day moving average.

Losses among IBD 50 stocks were moderate. Ambarella (AMBA) slipped furthest, down 3% to just below its 10-week moving average. It is in the fifth week of a consolidation.

Ambarella (NASDAQ:AMBA) is expected to post double-digit growth in earnings and revenue when the video chipmaker reports Q4 results after the close Tuesday. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters forecast an 88% increase in earnings per share excluding items, at 49 cents. Revenue is expected to jump ...

Stocks dipped in early action Tuesday, as investors took in a raft of mixed earnings reports and weak February auto sales.The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 slipped 0.5% each. The Dow Jones industrial average nosed down 0.4%. Volume-wise, the stock market today got off to a weak start, with volume down ...

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Select market data is provided by Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services. Price and Volume data is delayed 20 minutes unless otherwise noted, is believed accurate but is not warranted or guaranteed by Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services and is subject to Interactive Data Corp. Real Time Services terms. All times are Eastern United States. *Reflects real-time index prices.